Track of the Week: Revolver

So this may be the start of a new feature of the blog, track of the week...nor will they all be Madonna songs.

"Revolver" by Madonna, from the album "Celebration."

"Revolver" was issued as a single using this One Love remix. It is short but assuredly sweet. The album version is horrendous: it sounds like the most trite Top 40 American music you'd ever hear. An obligatory Lil' Wayne cameo, Madonna's cheap attempt at getting radio play and sales, marred the track. Loud, crashing music overpower Madonna's voice. I even detected some auto-tune, that over-used bane of music. The album version sounded a lot like Britney's "Radar" and was unlistenable. Fortunately, Warner had its screws tightened right when it decided to issue its last Madonna single. Remixed by David Guetta (producer of the Black Eyed Peas), the One Love remix of "Revolver" takes dust and turns it into a diamond. Madonna's voice is clear, not drowned out as on the album version. Her singing on the choruses harkens back to the high pitched vocals of her youth. The choruses are catchy and will easily get stuck in your head. The song ends with Madonna showing off her singing talents by holding her note on the melismatic glory of "I line them up and watch them fall." The lyrics expertly and intelligently compare love to a murder weapon, while the music is electronic and pop at its most current best (the song very much has the sound of '09). I'm glad David Guetta rescued this song, it turned out to be solid gold, without the Lil' Wayne rap, and by highlighting what Madonna had always done best: singing catchy lyrics over a dance track.

As of this post, "Revolver" is at 5 on the Dance Charts, and will probably be her umpteenth number one. Esther can't really climb up to the top of the real chart anymore...

(I stole this video from YouTube and couldn't find a version without the Lil Wayne rap, I apologize to your ears in advance).